Everything seemed usual as I sat on my usual spot in the Gryffindor common room. I read a book on the couch and Ron and Harry sat on opposite sides of the coffee table, playing wizard's chess and talking about quidditch or how stupid Snape was. Only I really knew that nothing was the same. Harry's life was in danger with the tri-wizard tournament and Ron was angry with Harry. No, wait; Jealous of Harry. I listened for their banter on something stupid and childish, but heard nothing. I looked up from my book to see them playing in silence. I sighed and stood up, putting my book down and deciding to walk around the common room and examine all of the things that other student's were doing. I couldn't take the silent treatment my two best friends were giving each other.
When I got to the other side of the room, I reached Fred Weasley, who was examining a prank that seemed to have gone wrong. There was an empty seat next to him and no sign of George, so I sat down. "I hope no one's sitting here." I looked up at him and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.
Fred jumped slightly, clearly he hadn't noticed me, and smiled a crooked smile. "Course not. George got detention. He was trying to impress Alicia Spinnet and it went horribly wrong. I'm trying to figure out why…" His face brightened up suddenly. "Of course! How had I been so stupid?" He began to dig in his famous "Weasley & Weasley" briefcase and pulled out a product that looked new and began to do what he was best at.
"You're really smart, Fred." I complimented. "Why don't you show it in class more often?" I looked up at him, wondering. He could easily be one of the smartest in the school if he'd just show it. I think that's why teacher's are so angry with them all the time; they're obviously not trying their hardest in class. I made me sad that they were wasting genius on something as silly as pranks.
Fred shrugged and looked over at me. He looked a bit surprised that I had just called him smart. I raised my eyebrows at him, waiting for an appropriate answer. "I know what I want to do, and I get what I learn and I do read… But half of this stuff I'll never, ever use." He shrugged. "I don't see the point in it, you know?" He laughed for a moment, running a hand through his bright red hair. "No, wait. You don't know, do you?" He grinned at me.
I just smiled softly and shook my head. "I love any sort of learning, but that's rather obvious." I felt my cheeks turn a bit rosy. I was almost embarrassed about my nerdy ways around Fred, because he was the opposite of a nerd. He was cool and collected, popular, loved by everyone, and funny. I just did people's homework. I nervously tucked hair behind my ear again as he chuckled softly.
"I think everyone knows that about you, Hermione." He grinned. "But that's what makes you different. If you were like everyone else, you wouldn't stand out as much." He nodded and looked over at me. He acted as if this was all obvious.
"I stand out?" I blurted out. That was meant to stay inside my head. Why am I so stupid in social situations, but smart in everything else?
Fred just laughed at my lack of social skills and raised his eyebrows. "Hermione, you're best friends with the 'boy who lived' and you have the bushiest hair I've ever seen!" He winked. "Plus, you're the smartest witch in the school. Everyone knows that." He nodded. "You could easily be in my year and still have the best marks. It's simple Hogwarts social knowledge, Hermione." He raised his eyebrows.
"I obviously need to brush up in the course…" I mumbled and Fred chuckled. "What are you then, since you explained me." I looked up at him, oddly curious. I usually didn't care about the social scene, but this was strangely interesting.
"Well, I'm a Weasley, and that right there puts me into a few stereotypes." He nodded. "I'm poor, and I must be a Quidditch player. Other than that, every Weasley is different, but I'm a Weasley twin, so therefore I'm a hilarious person who pulls pranks and is extremely hot." He winked at me and I bit my lip. "So I added that last bit there about Weasley twins in myself." He shrugged and laughed. "But I do know that I drive teachers bonkers. I take great pride in getting kicked out of classes." He laughed again, grinning ear to ear. "And Filch hates me, but everyone knows that." It was true. Filch would hang him by his thumbs should he ever have the chance.
"Well, sounds like your page in the textbook is a rather long one, Mr. Weasley." I giggled softly.
"Yours isn't that bad either, Ms. Granger." It was almost as if he was flirting with me. This was new for me, other than Krum flirting with me earlier. With Cho Chang nearby, I wasn't anyone's go to for flirting. And now with Beauxbatons here… You get the point. I smiled at him and I could see him almost open his mouth to say something else, when George walked over, smirking.
"Never thought I'd see the day where you two flirted." He raised a single eyebrow at the both of us and I straightened up, realizing how close I was to Fred. Fred didn't move, obviously used to flirting with girls with his brother there. He seemed to sense how uncomfortable I was and straightened up himself, sighing.
"I… I… I should go." I stuttered out and nodded. I stood up and brushed myself off, looking at the twins. My gaze lingered on Fred and he grinned at me.
"See you around, Granger." He winked and I went pink again, and walked away and out of the Gryffindor common room.
I had forgotten that people had surrounded us while we flirted. Who had all seen? I ran a hand through my brown hair. Was I really known for bushy hair? Focus! Did I really like Fred? Course not… He was more like a brother, right? There was no denying that I always thought that he was good-looking and funny. Everyone thought that though. And he flirted with everyone. What makes me think that I'm so special that he might actually like me? I was two years younger than him and his younger brother's best friend. If that's not enough reason not to like me, I don't know what is.